MMPL reaches out

Renee Vorhees has always felt that a library should serve every member of a community, even those who can’t necessarily serve themselves.

J. James Joiner

Library to begin delivery to homebound patrons

Renee Vorhees has always felt that a library should serve every member of a community, even those who can’t necessarily serve themselves. Starting Dec. 1, the Marstons Mills Public Library will do just that. “The idea is to provide library materials to people who otherwise can’t make it to us due to mobility problems,” said Vorhees, who, as library director, initiated the program. In September, the MMPL signed a partnership with Elder Services. They will provide volunteer drivers to make deliveries. “It’s a service that many libraries provide, mostly on an informal basis or as more of a personal favor,” she explained. “Our program will be a bit more structured.” After signing the agreement, Vorhees and her staff started working out the details, doing paperwork, specialized training for working with the elderly, and looking at CLAMS policies to make sure they were in line with what they wanted to do. Circulation Assistant Ann Flynn recently added the title of Homebound Delivery Service Coordinator, and will oversee much of the day-to-day operation of the program. Program participants will be given a form to fill out for selecting materials, be it books, movies or CDs. If they have a personal computer, a volunteer will come out and show them how to access the library and pick from its selections that way. Vorhees presented the program to the Marstons Mills Village Association at their last meeting. “We want to get word out in as wide an area as possible,” she said. Brochures are being sent to local churches, centers on aging, assisted living and residential facilities. People may self nominate, and anyone who feels they know a potential candidate for the program is encouraged to contact the library directly. The December start date isn’t accidental. “We want to catch people with their families,” explained Vorhees. “We’ll be alerting neighbors and families of those in the program that they will be receiving these deliveries. We want to be very up front with everything so that there’s no questions and everyone is comfortable.” While the program’s focus is initially on the Marstons Mills area, Vorhees doesn’t rule out crossing the village’s borders. “If there’s a patron outside our area who needs delivery, and it isn’t provided by their library, we’d be happy to consider putting them on our list,” she said. With the holidays upon us, it can be hard for the homebound. “Ultimately, we think our delivery program will help our homebound patrons feel like they are connected to the greater community,” Vorhees concluded. “Too often, homebound patrons are isolated, through no fault of their own, and forgotten.”